It's been a long old season.
Back in August Pompey played against Coventry City, managed by Aide Boothroyd, on the opening day of the season and lost 2-0; this was the return fixture.
Being sent to Coventry wasn't a great way to start the season. So much has happened since then of course.
The club is no longer in administration, has 'lost' some players (e.g. Smith, Brown, Hughes, Tal Ben Haim, Utaka) and seen others join, either on contracts or on-loan (e.g. Kitson, Lawrence, Dickinson, Sonko, De Laet, Hogg).
Broadly the season has had five phases: a very poor start, a mid-season recovery, a slump in form, a good run including six wins without conceding and a run-in which has seen Pompey secure Championship status and briefly talk up their chances of reaching the play-offs.
The latest reports would suggest that another Pompey takeover deal is imminent; going through a season with just one owner would be very un-Pompey-like wouldn't it? (;-D)
Yes, it's been a long old season.
Match comments
Two penalties from Marlon King, one in each half and a headed goal from a poorly marked Gary McSheffrey saw the Sky Blues stroll to victory in this Championship encounter.
Pompey made two changes from the starting line up against Preston North End. Ricardo Rocha returned from a one match suspension and Danny Webber started. Aaron Mokoena and David Cotterill dropped to the bench. Liam Lawrence was also on the bench. Dave Kitson was captain.
The first penalty was conceded by an out-of-sorts Ricardo Rocha returning from a one match ban following his sending off against Reading.
Pompey midfielder Hayden Mullins saw red in the second half of this game for a handball on the line. TV replays suggested afterwards that the ball took a deflection off his thigh and hit his hand. But obviously that evidence wasn't enough to help the powers-that-be rescind the card as Pompey's appeal after the game proved fruitless. It meant that Mullins would miss the game against Cardiff City, such a shame for a player who had been an ever present in the Pompey starting line-up, the only outfield player to do so.
Overall, Pompey did not play well and at times and looked like a team safe in the knowledge that they had no relegation worries. They didn't look like a team capable of keeping the feint flame of the play-offs ignited. End of season tiredness may have been a factor too, the squad size of course is not the biggest and that must put pressure, stresses and strains on the players in the long run. They were not helped by a formation which just didn't look right on the night. The best example of this being Dave Kitson who once again was played out wide instead of down the middle, not his best position.
On the evidence Coventry City looked more 'up for it' needing something from the game to banish any final worries of relegation.
Unfortunately, the referee - Mr Whitestone - will have better games although this should take nothing away from the visitors. His insistance on dropping the ball to restart play and his inability to curtail Coventry's goal celebrations, especially in the second half, just two examples. He felt the full wrath of Pompey fans' vocal disapproval, especially at the end of the game when he left the pitch.
Portsmouth versus Coventry City: Jamie Ashdown, Ritchie De Laet, Greg Halford, Ricardo Rocha, Hermann Hreidarsson, Joel Ward, Hayden Mullins, Jonathan Hogg, Dave Kitson, David Nugent, Danny Webber. Substitutes: Daryll Flahavan, Aaron Mokoena, Nadir Ciftci, Carl Dickinson, David Cotterill, Liam Lawrence and Kanu
Attendance: 13,132
MOTM: the official award went to Ritchie De Laet
Next up: Cardiff City (a) on Saturday 16th April at 3PM
Pictures
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